Grinder



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99W- @KfW/fpm /v//s Affgny G. S. DEY

GRINDER Flled Oct 14 1919 Aug. M, w23.

Patented rang, 1d, w23..

narrar GILET S. BEY, OF SOUTHBBIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T AMERFICAN OPTICAL 00MB, OF SOUTHBBIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VGL'NTRY ASSOCEA- TECN DE CHUSETTS.

'enrnnnn Application filed October 1d, 1919. Serial Ito. 330,571.

To aZZ 'whom it may concern.'

Be it .known that I, GILBERT S. Der, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grinders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grinders and has particular reference to novel and improved apparatus particularly adapted for use in the grinding of ophthalmic lenses.

@ne of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of novel and improved apparatus to facilitate the roughing out or forming of the initial curvature on a piece of glass designed for use in the production of an ophthalmic lens.

A further object of the present. invention is the provision of a novel and improved construction for use in the supplying of an abrasive or lubricating liuid in proper relation to the surface bemg operated upon to permit of continuous operation of the inachine in an automatic manner and reduce to a minimum stopping and starting of the machine or constant attention of an operator to supply the abrasive uid or lubricant.

Other objects and advantages of my improved construction should be readily apparent by reference to the following specication taken in connection with the accompanying draw-ings, and it will be understood that 1 may make any modifications in the specific details of construction shown and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a machine embodying my improvements.

Figure ll is a bottom plan View of one form of tool for use` in carrying out the principles of my invention.

Figure Hl is a front View of a machine embodying my improvements.

Figure 1V is a vertical sectional view through a dinerent structure of tool.

Figure V is a plan view of the tool remover for use in connection vention.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main frame of my machine, having the bearing 2 for the upper driven Spindle 3 and the bearing 1 for the lower spind le 5, these bearings being preferably relatively adjustable to vary the angular relationship of the spindles 2 and 5. Suitable pulle s 6 and 7 on the spindles afford means by w lich the' spindles may be rotated during the grinding o eration. lt will be noted that the spin le 5 is illustrated as provided on its upper end with the lens block 8 bearing the piece of glass 9 to be operated upon, while the spindle 3 is re ceived in the socket portion 10 of the tool l1, which is illustrated as provided with the curve which is to be produced on the glass, this tool being preferably in the Jform of an emery block or cup grinder, diamond charged lap, or the like, which is self contained as respects the abrasive to be employed, although it will be understood that if preferred it may be made ot iron or other material, and that the liquid supplied may carry abrasive such as emery, rouge or the like in a suspended state, in place of being merely a lubricating Fluid, both conditions with my inalling within the spirit of the present invention.

lin either event l preferably form the tool or lap with the upstanding annular skirt portion 12, forming a groove or recess 13 from which lead the passages 14 extending to the central aperture'15 and ducts 16. ln those cases where a diamond charged lap or similar tool is used for grinding of glass it is found desirable to produce satisfactory results that a continuous film of water or similar fluid be supplied to the surface unn dergoing the abrading action, and this in practise has proved extremely difiicult in those cases where the lap or glass are rotat ing elements, due to the fact that the abrasive action being performed by the surface of the tool, the tool is resting in very close engagement with the work and the centrifugal action of the rotating member tends to throw od my liquid exteriorly supplied, so

erably make use of a tank 17 and pipe 18,

terminating in a nozzle 19, so held as to discharge into the space 13 enclosed by the skirt 12. The passages 14, aperture 15 and duct 16 will then supply the outlets for the fluid from the tank 17 which will be carried outwardly from these various points by cenv trifugal action, gradually working out to the ed e of the work in a film between the lap an glass and thus fulfil the conditions necessary to satisfactory grinding. As before stated, this fluid indicated at 2() may be eithera plain lubricant or may have in suspension therein emery, rouge or the like, as preferred, and while I have shown one form of passage 14 and ducts 1G it will be understood that any desired. form may be employed so long as the general desired result is arrived at, namely, that of the fluid being interiorly supplied to the tool so that it may work out toward the edge and insure proper grinding action. I any event the continued automatic flow 'thus provided will be found to supply an excess of fiuid 20 and I, therefore, surround the'spindle 5 with the tub portion 21 provided with the outletconnection 22 adapted to drain ofiI the fluid where it may be conveyed to a suitable separator in case the abrasive is carried in suspension therein, or ifl't'is desired to preserve the particles produced by the grinding operation which are also carried off from the face of the work by the fluid supply.

It is, of course, to be understood in this connection that one of the essential features of my invention is the provision of my improved skirted perforated tool, which while particularly adapted for automatic use can be manually supplied with the Huid 2() if preferred, automat-ic operation not being essential to the operation of my machine, although preferable and advantageous. It is Jfurther to be understood that the form and arrangement of the several detail parts are capable of modification to suit particular conditions or individual preferences without departing from the generic principles of the invention..

In certain instances it is desirable that the tool 11 rotate at a high rate of speed and in this case difficulty may be experienced in getting the fiuid to feed into a small central aperture 15. In this event I may make use of the tool illustrated in Figure IV, having its lower face at 23 formed with the curve which it is desired to produce, and .having the inner face of the skirted portion as at 24 flaring downwardly, while the passages 25 are outwardly flared. This -construction is of' advantage in that as the space enclosed by the wall 24 is filled with fluid the centrifugal action of the highly rotated tool will tend to turn the fluid outward and the centrifugal action will 'force the fluid down into the interior of the tool and thence outwardly between the tool and surface being operated on, insuring thorough lubrication of the surface, in those instances where otherwise the high speed of the tool might interfere with proper inward circulation of' the lubricating fluid.

I would further call particular attention to another improvement in my construction, in that thepan or retainer 21 may be formed with the central arched recess 26 interiorly closed by the wall 27, this recess being open at the front to permit of insertion of the fork 2 8 between the lower edge of the lens grinding tool or block 2S) and the collar 30 on the lower spindle, so that the tool may be readily wedged upward or loosened from its spindle for removal.

I claim:

1. A lens grinding machine, including cooperative abrasivev lap and lens block, upper and lower spindles operatively and respectively carrying said elements, a bearing for the spindle carrying said block, an abrasive lubricant container supported on said bearing and substantially housing said block and provided with a central arched wall for the reception of the lower extremity of the block, said arched wall adapted for the reception of a tool, with which the lens block may be wedged upwardly whereby said block may be removed.

2. In a lens grinding machine, the combination with a lens block, of a lap having a lower grinding face for operating upon a lens to be supported on theblocl and provided with an upper central recess for the reception of abrasive lubricant, said lap having passages converging downwardly from the outer portion of the central recess, said lap provided with additional passages diverging downwardly from the first passages, and a central passage coextensive with the converged ends of the first passages, whereby the central passage and the diverging passages may convey abrasive lubricant to the grinding face.

3. 'A lens grinding machine, including upper and lower spindles substantially endwise disposed, a lens block operatively mounted on the lower spindle, a lap operatively mounted on the upper spindle and including means for supplying abrasive lu.- the insertion of a, tool with which the lens 10 bricant to the grinding face of the lap, a block may be wedged upwardly, whereby bearing for the lower spindle, and a lubrisaid block may be removed. cant container supported on the bearing to In testimony whereof I have affixed my 5 substantially house said block, and provided signature, in presence of two witnesses.

with draining outlets for carrying o abra- GLBERT S. DEY. sive lubricant, said container having a cen- Witnesses: tral arched wall for the reception of the H. E. Comm,

lower extremity of the block to permit of Amon G. Hmmm. 

